Institute Faculty
President and Founder
Dr. James Dunning
DPT, MSc Manip Ther, MSPT, OCS, MTC, MAACP, MCSP, FAAOMPT, MMACP (UK)
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (USA)
Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (UK)
Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (UK)
Dr. James Dunning is the founder and owner of Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Dunning specializes in spinal manipulation, western and traditional Chinese acupuncture, and trigger point dry needling for a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Dunning graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of the Pacific, California and a post-graduate Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Florida. In addition, he received a post-graduate Master of Science in Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of Birmingham, England, and has completed advanced training in Osteopathic Spinal Manipulation at the London School of Osteopathy.
Dr. Dunning is a Manipulative Physiotherapist, Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, Certified Manual Therapist, Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, Member of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (England), and Member of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (England). He has completed original experimental research investigating the effects of cervical manipulation on the electromyographic activity of the upper limb muscles.
Dr. Dunning presented on the neurophysiological effects of C5-6 high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation on the biceps brachii muscle at the 2007 American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) Annual Conference in St. Louis. This original experimental research entitled "The effects of cervical manipulation on the resting electromyographic activity of the biceps brachii muscle" by Dunning & Rushton (2009) is published in the international journal Manual Therapy 14 (2009) 508-513. The full text PDF version can be downloaded here.
Dr. Dunning has a special interest in the use of acupuncture and spinal manipulation for the treatment of cervicogenic headaches, whiplash associated disorders of the cervicothoracic region, post-partum pelvic pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunctions, lumbar zygapophyseal joint dysfunctions, neurogenic cervicobrachial pain syndromes, craniofacial pain, and neuromyofascial pain syndromes.
In 2008, Dr. Dunning presented original experimental research on the effects of HVLA thrust manipulation on the electromyographic activity of upper limb muscles in Rotterdam, Netherlands at the 9th Congress of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT). Dr. Dunning was awarded the 2009 AAOMPT OPTP Research Grant for the study entitled, "Upper cervical and upper thoracic thrust manipulation versus nonthrust mobilization in patients with mechanical neck pain: a multi-center randomized clinical trial"--Dunning et al (2012) was published in the January 2012 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
REGISTER ONLINE for the TWO-DAY COURSE entitled SMT-1: High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Thrust Manipulation of the Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar and SI Joints.
Follow Dr. Dunning at twitter.com/drdunning
Email Dr. James Dunning at seminars@spinalmanipulation.org
Dr. Mark Waldrop
PT, DPT, BSPT, Cert. SMT™
Certified in Spinal Manipulative Therapy™
Senior Instructor: SMT-1: High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Thrust Manipulation of Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar & SIJ
Dr. Mark Waldrop is the founder and owner of Newberry Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Clinic and is the President of Chapin Rehabilitation Clinic in South Carolina. Dr. Waldrop received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina at Aiken, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy with Honors from the Medical College of Georgia, and a post-graduate Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Dr. Waldrop has published original research in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, and more recently was a co-author of the Dunning et al (2012) study titled, "Upper cervical and upper thoracic thrust manipulation versus nonthrust mobilization in patients with mechanical neck pain: a multi-center randomized clinical trial" that was published in JOSPT.
Dr. Waldrop successfully completed SMT-1 to 4 of the Spinal Manipulation Institute HVLA Thrust Manipulation Series™, and after passing comprehensive oral, written and practical examinations of all spinal regions, is Certified in Spinal Manipulative Therapy™ (Cert. SMT) through the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy & Spinal Manipulation Institute. Dr. Waldrop is a senior instructor for the SMI course titled, "SMT-1: High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Thrust Manipulation of the Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar & Sacroiliac Joints."
Mr. Gisli Sigurdsson
MSc Manip Ther, BScPT, SRP, MCSP, MMACPSenior Instructor: SMT-1: High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Thrust Manipulation of Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar & SI Joints
Gisli Sigurdsson received a BSc in Physiotherapy from the University of Iceland and a Master of Science in Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy from the University of Birmingham, England. He has completed original experimental research on the electromyographic activity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in different cranio-cervical sitting postures. He is a Member of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MMACP), England. Mr. Sigurdsson is a former European Handball player in the Premier Icelandic League (1990-1994). Mr. Sirgurdsson is a Manipulative Physiotherapist and is the founder and owner of The Physiotherapy Clinic in Kopavogur, Iceland.